Apple celling and slicing machine



ay 30,1950 J. w. PEASE 2,509,781

APPLE' CELLING AND SLICING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet ly 1950 J. w. PEASE 7 2,509,781

APPLE CELLING AND SLICING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 y1950 J. w. PEASE 2,509,781

APPLE CELLING AND SLICING MACHINE I Filed Jan. 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3IN VEN TOR. WPeaSe,0cea6ec/ I g; erecwraz May 30, 1950 J. w. PEASE2,509,781

APPLE CELLING AND SLICING MACHINE Ja 19, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PatentedMay 30, 1 950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPLE CELLING AND SLICINGMACHINE John W. Pease, deceased, late of Rochester, N. Y., by WinnifredN. Pease, executrix, Rochester,

Application January 19, 1948, Serial No. 3,125

3 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to machines for seed-celling and slicingapples and like fruits.

In the preparation of apples for cooking, canning and drying it iscustomary practice to first pare and core the apples. Then the applesare fed into a combined seed-calling and slicing machine for removal ofthe seeds and seed-cells and for quartering the apples or dividing theminto lesser divisions.

In seed-celling and slicing machines, it is conventional practice toprovide a rotary spindle, to one side of which the celling knife issecured. Mounted radially of this spindle are the slicing blades whichare located just beneath the celling knife. The cored apples are droppedover the rotating spindle and guided by their cored holes to the slicingblades. An oscillating arm or beam, which is adapted to straddle thespindle, serves to seat each apple against the slicing blades so thatits seed-cells will register axially with the calling knife. The slicingblades enter partly into the apple and serve to hold it against rotationin a partially severed condition while the seed-cells are being removed.After celling, another apple is dropped onto the rotating spindle, andthe movement of this apple into seed-celling position by the oscillatingarm or beam serves to push the first apple through the slicing blades;and thus the operation of the machine is completed.

The slicing blades only enter partially into an apple prior to theseed-celling operation, but even this partial entrance slightly weakensthe apple and may result in the apple being split prematurely under theslightly expanding pressure of the celling knife at its center.Moreover, the falling apple may be shattered by its impact against theslicing blades. These mischances .are particularly possible if the applehappens to be unusually soft and mellow. If the apple is splitprematurely it is usually broken up into a lot of unusable fragments.

One object of the present invention is to provide means for holding anapple during celling which Will prevent the apple from being broken intosegments under the expanding pressure of the celling knife.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventingpremature splitting of an apple which will also serve as auxiliary meansfor holding the apple against rotation during seedcelling.

A further object of the invention is toprovide means for easing the fallof anapple as it drops down the rotating seed' cellin-g spindle, so astoprevent the slicing blades from being embedded by gravity too deeplyinto the apple or from shattering the falling apple.

Another object of the invention is to provide means which will so retardthe fall of the apple that the actual positioning of the apple axiallyprior to the seed-celling operation Will be wholly controlled by theoscillating arm or beam, thereby insuring more accurate centering of theapple for seed-celling.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from thespecification and from the recital of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a seed-celling and slicing machine inwhich are incorporated the features of the present invention, themachine being shown broken away at the bottom and partly in verticalsection and the feeding platform and positioning arm or beam being shownat the end of a cycle of operation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the celling knife andthe adjacent parts of the celling spindle;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken at right angles to the View of Fig. l,with parts broken away, and.

showing an apple dropping down the spindle to celling position;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the directionof the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 3 but showing an apple inseed-celling position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of parts shown in Fig. 5, showing how theapple is held during the seed-celling operation;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged View showing one set of holding blades;

Fig. 8 is a plan sectional view showing the rela tive positions of theslicing spider, apple holding means and celling knife and spindle; and

Fig. 9 is a view showing these parts with an apple in seed-cellingposition.

Referring now to the drawings more particularly, I 0 denotes the frameof the machine which is substantially rectangular and made of angleiron. The frame is covered at its top by a tray I i which is preferablyslightly forwardly inclined, It is upon this tray that the cored applesare spread or piled ready to the hand of the operator.

At an intermediate height there is supported in the frame of the machinea spider l2 (Figs. 8 and 9) which is secured to the frame til by screwsor bolts 14. This spider is provided with a central opening in which ismounted a ring it which is provided with a plurality of slicing bladeswhich extend radially from a common center. The

3 slicing ring is secured to the spider i2 by screws H.

The slicing ring is provided with two sets of slicing blades. The bladesof the two sets alternate with one another and are denoted at it and I8,respectively. The blades [8 have their inner ends higher than theirouter ends (Fig. 6) and are inclined downwardly from their inner ends totheir outer ends, while the blades l8 are inclined upwardly from theirinner ends to their outer ends. The inner ends of all the blades arefixed in a stationary sleeve [9.

This sleeve is supported by ribs 26 of a casting 2| which is secured byscrews or bolts 22 (Fig. 3) to cross-beams of frame 56. Rotatabl mountedin the sleeve i9 is a rotary spindle The upper free end of this spindleprojects into a well 2% (Fig. l) which is near the lower or front end ofthe tray l and which surrounds an opening 23 in the tray through whichan apple may be placed upon the spindle. The spindle is providedintermediate its ends with an enlarged portion 27 (Fig. 2), whichterminates in a shoulder 28 that rests upon the sleeve id. The spindleitself is flatted off at its bottom at one side as denoted at 28 in Fig.2 and is connected by a set screw 30' (Fig. 3) to the bevel miter gear3i. This gear meshes with and is driven by a bevel miter gear 32 whichis secured by a screw 33 to a horizontal shaft 34. The shaft 35 isjournaled in the casting 2| and has collars 3t and 2 secured to it byset screws 3'! and These collars engage against the bearings for theshaft to prevent axial movement of the shaft. The shaft is adapted to bedriven during operation of the machine by a sprocket or pulley 38 whichis secured by a set screw 39 to the shaft.

The enlarged portion 2'! of the spindle has a flat part 3G to which issecured the rigid seedcelling knife 35. This knife projects laterallyfrom the spindle and is bowed or semicircular in a shape. It is narrowerat its top than at the bot tom and is inclined slightly upwardly in adirection opposite to the direction of rotation of the spindle. Thus,while a cored apple is sliding down on the spindle, the knife 35 makesan imperceptible track or channel in the core opening thereof withoutfurther mutilation of the apple despite the continuous rotation of thespindle.

48 (Fig. 1) denotes the vertically swinging feedarm or beam which servesto locate the apple axially for seed-ceiling. This arm is pivotallymounted at 4! upon the frame of the machine. It has a fork orbifurcation 32 at its free end which is adapted to straddle the spindle25 in the movement of the arm. The arm is adapted to be oscillated upand down by cam t l which is secured to a shaft that is journaled in abracket 49 which is secured to frame til. The throw of the arm 48 can beadjusted precisely by adjustment of a set screw :35 which threads intothe arm and engages a strap l'l that is secured at one end to the arm bya screw or rivet 38. This strap engages the periphery of the cam id.

While one apple is being celled, another 1c is prevented from droppingonto the first b a platform 50. This platform is also adapted, when inoperative position, to straddle spindle 25. It is carried by an arm 5ithat is continuously biased towards operative position by a coil spring'52. The loop of this spring surrounds a pin 53 which is secured in theframe and opposite ends of it engage the arm 5! and an arm 56,respectively. The arm 54 is secured to a bar 55 that is fastened to theframe. The arm M has a fol lower 56 at its inner end that engages in thetrackway of a cam 51 which is secured to the shaft 15. The shaft 45 isdriven continuously during operation of the machine from a shaft Edthrough a spur pinion BI and a spur gear 82, the latter being secured tothe shaft 5.

The arm 4% is normally urged upwardly by a coil spring 65 which issecured at one end to an angle plate 66 that is fastened to the frame ofthe machine and at its opposite end to an arm which is secured by bolts68 to beam arm Ml.

All of this is conventional structure in seedcelling and slicingmachines.

Secured to a cross bar of the frame of the machine are two brackets 78and 18 (Figs. 3 and 5). Pivotally mounted upon these brackets are thearms 72 and 12'. Secured to opposite sides of the lower end of the arm72 by screws '54 are two plates 15 and 15a. These plates have legsparallel to the sides of arm 12 and laterally extending wings which aredisposed angularly to the legs and which project at opposite sides ofthe arm. The laterally extending wings have their tops rolled over, asdenoted at 7% in Fig. 7. Welded, or secured in any other suitable mannerto the upright portions of the wings are holding blades 18. Secured tothe lower end of the arm l2 by screws M are similar plates 15' and Eda,respectively (Figs. 8 and 9) which also have blades 16 fastened in them.

The wing portions of plates i5, 75a, '55 and "i5'a form an approximatelyhollow square, see Figs. 8 and 9, with the knife blades '35 projectinginwardly. The square arrangement allows the wings to accommodatethemselves to the shape of the apple whether regular or irregular, andthe holding blades 18, when engaged with the apple prevent it from beingbroken into segments prematurely under the expanding pressure of thecelling knife. The plates ill and We and I5 and l5a constitute,therefore, opposed jaws having sharp edges 16 for securely holding anapple during seed-celling.

Secured to the inside surfaces of the arms l2 and 12' above the platesare spring arms or straps 88 and 88. The straps 88 and 8d are secured tothe arms '12 and i2, respectively, in opposed relation by screws 8!.They serve to limit the drop of the apple under the effect of gravit andprevent it from becoming impaled on the slicing blades Hi until the arm48 in its action positively seats it on these blades, thereby accuratelycentering it with reference to the celling knife 35.

The arms 12 and 12' are adapted to be constantly urged toward oneanother under the action of coil springs 82 and 82' (Figs. 3 and 5).These are secured at one end to pins 83 and 83, respectively, and attheir opposite ends to pins 84 and 84', respectively. The pins 84 and 8dare threaded into the arms !2 and 12. The pins 83 and 83' are secured inthe casting 2!. Stops 85 and 85', which are secured in the plates 10 and'18, respectively, serve to limit the inward movement of the arms 12 and12' by engagement with the pins 84 and 84', respectively.

The arms 12 and 12' are adapted to rock about pivot studs or bolts 86and 86' (Figs. 3, 4 and 5). They are held against the plates 10 and 18,re-

spectively, by coil springs, one of which is shown vex surface of plate'lfl is denoted at 90 in Fig. 4.

The hole bored in each arm l2, 12' for the pivot stud 86 or B6 is doubleconical in shape. The bore of arm 12. is denoted at 92 in Fig. 4. Thisconstruction together with the convex contacting surfaces of the platespermits the arms to rock to accommodate themselves to apples of varioussizes and shapes.

The operation of the machine will be understood from the precedingdescription, but may briefly be summed up here.

When the machine is in continuous operation, there is always an appleresting on the slicing blades 56, as shown at A in Figs. 1 and 6, exceptfor those instantaneous intervals when an apple is actually being pushedthrough the slicing blades it and H8. At such times, the forked platform50 is in operative position (Figs. 1 and straddling the spindle 25 andholding a second apple B from falling down the spindle on which it hasjust been placed by the operator.

For the first operation of the machine on a new lot of apples, theoperator places a cored apple over the top end of spindle 25 on forkedplatform 55). This spindle and the shaft 45 are rotating all the while.At a predetermined point in the rotation of the cam 51, the arm 5| isswung laterally to swing the platform 50 aside (Fig. 3), allowing theapple to drop down the spindle. At this time, the arm or beam 4|] willbe in its uppermost position as shown in Fig. 3.

As the apple drops down the spindle, its movement will be retarded bythe spring arms 8!] and 89' and it will be prevented from falling ontothe knife blades It by gravity. The cam 44 in its rotation will nowcause the arm 4|] to move downwardly to engage the apple A and move itdown to the celling position. This position can be accurately gauged byadjustment of the strap 41 so that the apple will be correctly centeredaxi- 't f to th s edelln kn'f 3" w. any W1 h re erence e e c 1 g 1 e asaid jaws having a blade thereon which extends under control of the arm40. There is no chance, as has happened with machines of previousdesign, that gravity may drop the apple down so far that it cannot beproperly centered. Continued rotation of the cam 51 meantime willrestore the arm 5! to the position shown in Fig. 1 to support the nextapple B which the operator has placed upon the spindle 25.

The action of arm 40 will seat the first apple A securely on the slicingblades I6 and the holding blades 16 will take firm hold of it in linewith the point of action of the seed-celling knife. Thus the apple willbe held firmly against rotation as the rotating celling knife performsits function. Moreover, the inward pressure exerted by springs 82 and82' on holding plates 15, 55a, 75 and 15a and blades 16 will offset andcounteract any outward pressure due to action of the celling knife; andthus, the apple will be prevented from splitting or disruption.

The arm remains down during seed-calling with the fork 42 straddling thespindle 25 and just touching the apple A. When the high-point of the camM, which is rotating in the direction of the arrow 95 (Fig. 1), hasrotated out of contact with the strap 41, the arm 40 rises underinfluence of the spring 65, and, as seed-celling on the first apple A iscompleted, the cam 51 will rotate to such a position as to swing the arm5| laterally to release the second apple B.

As the apple B slides down the spindle it will be retarded by springarms 80 and 80' and settle gently on top of apple A. Cam 5'! will nowrestore platform to operative position to support the next apple, whilecam 44 will cause arm 40 to move downwardly to engage apple B and forcethat apple down to celling position. The apple B pushes Apple A ahead ofit through the slicing blades I6 and I8, and apple B assumes the cellingposition formerly occupied by apple A.

The movement of apple A through slicing blades 16 and I8 completes theoperation thereon and its pieces are deflected into a suitablereceptacle by the sheet metaldefiectors 91 (Fig. 1). The machinecontinues in operation and the cycle of seed-selling and slicing iscompleted for apple B and for all the other apples of the lot asdescribed for apple A.

While the invention has been described. in connection with a particularembodiment thereof, it'

is capable of further modification, and this application is intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following,in general, the principles of the invention and including suchdepartures from the present disclosures as come within known orcustomary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as maybe applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth and as fallwithin the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a seed-celling and slicing machine, the combination with avertically disposed rotary spindle having a free upper end forimpalement of cored apples thereon, a seed-celling knife securedthereto, and a plurality of slicing blades extending radially of saidspindle and mounted below said knife, of a pair of pivotally mountedarms disposed at opposite sides, respectively, of said spindle, each ofsaid arms carrying a jaw, the two jaws being adapted to engage an applefrom opposite sides thereof to hold the apple against rotation duringoperation of the knife, each of generally axially of the spindle, andmeans for resiliently pressing said arms toward the spindle to hold thejaws in operative position, of a resilient finger mounted on each arm,said fingers being disposed at opposite sides of the spindle and abovesaid jaws to retard an apple falling down said spindle, means forrotating said spindle, and means adapted to straddle said spindle topush a cored apple through said resilient fingers to seat the apple onsaid slicing blades and between said jaws, said last-named means beingoperable through the intermediation of a second apple to push the firstapple through said slicing blades when positioning the second applebetween said jaws.

2. In a seedcelling and slicing machine, the combination with avertically disposed. rotary spindle, a seed-celling knife securedthereto, and a plurality of slicing blades extending radially of saidspindle and mounted below said knife but close enough thereto to engagean apple while the seed-ceiling knife is operating on the apple, ofauxiliary means for holding the apple during operation of said knifecomprising a pair of jaw members disposed above said slicing blades andopposite the seed-celling knife and adapted to grip an apple fromopposite sides thereof to hold said apple against disintegration duringoperation of said knife, each of said jaw members having two jaw faces,projections on the interiors of said faces for biting into an apple togrip the same, means for rotating said spindle, means for moving saidjaw members into apple-engaging position, and means for forcing an applethrough said slicing blades after the seed-ceiling operation iscompleted.

3. In "a seed-celling and slicing machine, the combination with avertically disposed rotary spindle having a free upper end forimpalement of cored apples thereon, a seed-celling knife securedthereto, and a plurality of slicing blades extending radially of saidspindle and mounted below said knife but close enough thereto to engagean apple while the seed-celling knife is operating on the apple, ofauxiliary means for holding the apple during operation of said knifecomprising a pair of pivotally mounted jaws disposed at opposite sidesof said spindle and adapted to engage an apple from opposite sidesthereof to 15 hold the apple during action of said knife, of a saidlast-named means being operable through the intermediation of a secondapple to push the first apple through said slicing blades whenpositioning the second apple between said jaws, some, at least, of saidslicing blades having their inner ends higher than their outer ends andextending upwardly between the jaws.

' 1 WINNIFRED N. PEASE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 237,876 Jones Feb. 15, 1881945,889 Winans Jan. 11, 1910 1,683,481 Pease Sept. 4, 1928 1,765,310Reynolds June 17, 1930 1,825,470 'Musselman Sept. 29, 1931 1,861,084Gorandson et al. May 31, 1932 2,429,749 Dunn Oct. 28, 1947

